About Us

The Association of Independent Members of Standards Committees in England is a new  organisation to provide peer group support to members, to champion their interest, to empower them in their role and function and to represent their interests.

The Association’s Inaugural Meeting was  held on Monday 16 October, 2006 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. Some seventy independent members of standards committees attended. The Constitution was adopted.

Elections were held and the following appointed to the Committee:-

Position   Appointee   aimsce e-mail addresses

Chair:    Bruce Claxton,  bruce.claxton@aimsce.org.uk
Vice Chair:    Peter Rowland  peter.rowland@aimsce.org.uk
Secretary:   Currently vacant.
Treasurer:   Bruce Claxton.  bruce.claxton@aimsce.org.uk
Director without portfolio: Mike Wilkinson,  mike.wilkinson@aimsce.org.uk
Membership Secretary:  Currently Vacant
Newsletter Editor:  Currently Vacant
Website manager:  Bruce Claxton.  bruce.claxton@aimsce.org.uk
New Member: Dennis Ball dennis.ball@aimsce.org.uk

In accordance with the constitution they will all stand down at the Annual General Meeting which is planned to be held in the Houses of Commons in June, 2007.

The Association is  needed:  

• To be responsive to members’ ‘professional’ needs.
• To have the role of Independents recognised as an equal alongside elected members, chief executives, monitoring officers and representatives from Town and Parish councils.
• To be representative of  members views.
• To provide levels of inputs to the local authority ethical cultures similar to those of other stakeholders.
• To provide a collective voice in consultative processes with government and others.
• To provide a fertile platform to develop ideas not necessarily coming from other stakeholders.
• To recruit members from geographical areas still showing reluctance to form forums.

Independent members of Standards Committees fulfill a statutory role and an extended role, as required under the terms of reference of the individual standards committee to which they are appointed;

We help increase public confidence and provide a clear signal that the committee is fair.

We create, or help create, a climate and culture of high standards of conduct.

We persuade members of standards committees to view issues from an ethical perspective

We bring neutrality and see issues objectively.

We bring a wider experience from outside local government because of our experience from a wide range of work environments and cultures.

We drive the ethical agenda and look for probity in all activities of our authorities including those that maybe more remote such as partnering arrangements. 

We bring an air of professionalism to debate, scrutiny and analysis of contentious issues.

The benefits of membership of the Association are:

• The backing and support of an organisation specifically orientated for its members needs, run by volunteer members, and thus harnessing the relevant expertise of its membership where appropriate.
• Through peer support, empowering members to fulfill their roles and functions.
• The availability and provision of  advice and guidance on statutory duties and responsibilities
• Having access to a register of members.
• Being able to exchange views, comments, and make recommendations.
• Receiving information through a regular News Letter; including information sent in by members, and occasionally, when appropriate on an ad hoc basis.
• Bringing to members the benefits of research.

The Association’s financial year is from 1 April to 31 March.

The corporate plan is:

• To attract and maintain a membership of  at least one from every relevant authority every independent chair.
• To have the ability for members to find other members through our membership register.
• To hold three events per year: a fringe meeting at the Annual Assembly of Standards Committees;the Annual General Meeting, with a key note speaker, and a conference or training event.
• To facilitate training.
• To carry out surveys on issues of importance to our members.
• To develop a register of members who are able and available to provide Peer Support to other Standards Committees.
• To raise funds to meet start up and running costs. 
• To acquire hardware and software to accomplish these plans efficiently and effectively.
• Through contact with our stakeholder bodies to prove ourselves to have a valid and additional voice to add to the debate in government, the Standards Board for England, universities and all appropriate places in the local government scene and arena. 
• To encourage and support regional forums (or branches) and to assist members or other Independent Members to set up forums (or branches) in geographical areas where none currently exist.
• To prepare and keep our accounts in accordance with established practice on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and subject to independent examination by an independent examiner on a reciprocal no fees basis.

Geographical spread of Membership.

The membership as at 28 October 2006 comes from the following counties in England:

Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Birmingham, Cornwall, County Durham,  Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, London, Manchester, Norfolk, Rutland, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire, Yorkshire.